Taking Charge of Change

One way of looking at personality type is something called the Quadrants Lens. In this piece we'll examine how knowledge of the Quadrants Lens can help you cope with change, something you are probably very familiar with on your reintegration journey. The Quadrants Lens is based on the first and second letters of your four-letter type code: E or I and S or N. It focuses our attention on four different ways of engaging with the world; through:

Introversion and Sensing (IS)

Introversion and Intuition (IN)

Extraversion and Sensing (ES)

Extraversion and Intuition (EN)

Each of the four different pairings has something in common with two of the other pairings: IS and IN share Introversion, ES and EN share Extraversion, IS and ES share Sensing, and IN and EN share Intuition. Therefore, there are some similarities in how people with these preferences approach reintegration and career transition, which you will notice in the suggestions below. Further, because neither IS and EN nor IN and ES have any letters in common, the differences between their approaches to reintegration and career transition may be easier to spot.

How might knowing about the Quadrants Lens provide a structure for reintegrating back into your former job or for approaching career change? The Quadrants Lens highlights what approaches typically energize you and what kinds of information you are likely to find most relevant. It may also help pinpoint situations that could prompt your resistance. This understanding can help you handle changing circumstances gracefully, as well as indicate where and when you may have to work harder to remain flexible.

People with preferences for IS (ISTJ, ISFJ, ISTP AND ISFP) tend to get their energy from their inner world and focus on facts and specifics.

During the reintegration process you may:

Resist approaches that don't respect the tried and true

Therefore it helps to:

Give yourself time to verify the practical value of any change

People with preferences for IN (INFJ, INTJ, INFP AND INTP) tend to get their energy from their inner world and focus on patterns and meanings.

During the reintegration process you may:

Resist approaches that don't offer new insights

Therefore it helps to:

Give yourself time to consider the innovative potential of any change

People with preferences for ES (ESTP, ESFP, ESTJ AND ESFJ) tend to get their energy from the outer world and focus on facts and specifics.

During the reintegration process you may:

Resist approaches that don't facilitate trying things out

Therefore it helps to:

Give yourself the opportunity to test the application value of any change

People with preferences for EN (ENFP, ENTP, ENFJ, ENTJ) tend to get their energy from the outer world and focus on patterns and meanings.

During the reintegration process you may:

Resist approaches that don't allow for pioneering efforts

Therefore it helps to:

Give yourself the opportunity to discuss the strategic potential of any change

Being a warrior required you to adjust to changing circumstances at a pace and in a manner that was chosen by others. Now it's your turn to set the pace and choose your path. Having a better understanding of what may facilitate progress on your reintegration journey-and what may block it-helps you move forward with your transition in a way that works best for you.